Posted on 27 December 2011. Tags: calvert county home sales
At the end of last December I put together my predictions for 2011. Below are the predictions and how I did.
• Home prices will continue to decline as more short sales and foreclosures hit the market. I was right prices dropped some neighborhoods were worse than others.
• Investors get in on the game offering cash. Reports just started to come in last month on the increase of cash sales. Nation wide 38% of home sales were purchased for cash, up from 34% last year and 19% in 2006.
• Increase in short sales due to declining market values and some owners need to sell. This trend started early in the year nation wide the number of short sales rose 19 percent from the first quarter.
• Higher gas prices make Calvert County a great place to vacation since it is so close to DC. Vacation rentals were slower than normal this year so I was off on this. I believe people just skiped vacation this year. The reports won’t be out until beginning of 2012.
• More vacation home owners open up to the idea of renting their home out as a vacation rental in Calvert County. My business has doubled as far as new vacation rentals. I am now only managing properties that I know will rent well.
• Many potential vacation home buyers rent for now since they are too scared to buy. I still need to research this one to see what happened. It will be in a special report in March.
• Some vacation home buyers with cash will see their dream home for a bargain price and decide to buy.I still need to research this one to see what happened. It will be in a special report in March.
• People will continue to take short vacations close by to save money. This year I saw even fewer weekly rentals. They only accounted for about 5% of all of the rental bookings compared with 80% 6 years ago.
I will be putting together my 2012 predictions in a few weeks. Overall I got surprised with the vacation rentals not renting as well this year but I was on target with all of my other predictions.
Posted in Area Trends
Posted on 20 October 2011. Tags: Investor Best Buy Southern maryland
Below are samples of some of the houses we sold in Southern Maryland for under $68,000! The Southern Maryland Best Buy List is free and delivered to your email weekly. Signup at: http://southernmarylandrentals.com/investors/ We search for the best buy properties in the area each week and send them to you. We will be having investor seminars coming up within the next few months as well. If you want to be notified when they come up just email me at phyllis@paxhomes.com
518 WHITE SANDS DR, LUSBY, MD 20657
Close Price: $51,500

43880 SCRIBER LN, HOLLYWOOD, MD 20636
Close Price: $57,000

27064 CAPE SAINT MARYS DR, MECHANICSVILLE, MD 20659
Close Price: $54,600
Posted in Best Buy of the Week, Calvert County, Fixer Uppers, Foreclosures, Investors, St Marys County
Posted on 08 September 2011. Tags: beach calvert county, Vacation home calvert county, water view calvert county
This month when I did my research on the latest vacation home sales in Calvert County I found that water view home sales have been steadily rising for the last few months.

Other waterfront home sales in Calvert County have been up and down, walk to beach home (without views) sales in Calvert County have remained consistent.
Posted in Calvert County, Vacation Homes
Posted on 30 August 2011. Tags: St Leonard Homes
Many homes crushed in St Leonard. Still over 1400 without power. Trees are down everywhere. Our office does have power and internet running thankfully. Checked on my rental homes and homes for sale in St Leonard and so far all rentals are OK.
I have trees down at 3 foreclosure listings I still can’t get to one in Chesapeake Ranch Estates. They had the road blocked there.
Posted in Saint Leonard, St Leonard
Posted on 20 August 2011.
I planted some seed for lettuce, beets, and more spinach last weekend. My turnips are doing great. I planted them in a container. See the photo below:

I also planted some in the garden soil but they are not doing as well. My cat is using the garden as her litter box and has destroyed most of my spinach too. I have not caught her yet, so she keeps digging.
My Japanese Eggplant is still producing but this will probably be the last crop from it because I need to use the container for fall and winter vegetables. I also have sweet potatoes growing in the container with it. I am not sure how they will do. They were a first time experiment. Below is a photo of my second crop of eggplants:

Posted in Gardening
Posted on 11 August 2011.
My Japanese Eggplant is taking off I picked one already and 3 more are growing on the plant!
I have started my winter garden. Turnips, Broccoli, Cabbage, Spinach. This weekend I will pull up the squash and beans they were a flop this year, and replace them with winter vegetables. I also purchased a Stink Bug trap so hopefully it works.
My Beefmaster tomato plant that I planted late in the year is taking off, I hope it’s not too late to get some ripe ones.
Posted in Gardening
Posted on 09 August 2011. Tags: cottage for sale chesapeake beach
Looking for a Cottage for sale in Chesapeake Beach, Md? This one is close to shopping, restaurants and th beach. If you just want a small cottage with a view and walk to the Chesapeake Bay, this is a must see. The price was is $139,900. If you would like to view more beach cottages for sale in Chesapeake Beach you can signup at www.SmdVacation.com. If you would like to view this one just call (301) 904-5708 or email me at phyllis@localwaterfront.com
We're sorry, but we couldn't find MLS # CA7662828 in our database. This property may be a new listing or possibly taken off the market. Please check back again.
Posted in Best Buy of the Week, Chesapeake Beach, Chesapeake Beach
Posted on 29 July 2011. Tags: southern maryland gardening
I have been experimenting in the garden this year. This week eggplants are producing. I planted the Black Beauty eggplants in containers and for the first time I have 2 eggplants on each plant. Earlier in the month I had 6 Japeneese Egplants once that plant stopped producing I chopped it down to about 5″ and it is starting to flower and produce again. I read that hotter climates can produce 3 crops of eggplants if you chop them down and it appears to be working.
The biggest problem I have had this year is with summer squash. First it was a virus that rotted the squash. I pulled the plants up from that garden and planted some new from seed in a different location. So now insects (I think stink bugs) are sucking the squash stems and plants are wilting. What leaves are left are being eaten by a wood chuck.
Posted in Gardening
Posted on 19 July 2011. Tags: Vacation home southern maryland
Vacation home sales in Southern Maryland bounce back in June! After having a very slow month in May vacation home sales jumped to April levels. The market data below includes Calvert County and St. Marys County. Inquiries and showings of vacation properties in Southern Maryland are up in July as well. Normally July is very slow so it is encouraging. If you are thinking about selling your home it may be a good time to market it!

Posted in Vacation Homes
Posted on 18 July 2011. Tags: Waterfront Fixer Upper Calvert County, Waterfront Fixer Upper Chesapeake Bay
Looking for a waterfornt fixer upper in Calvert County? This one needs lots of work but it is located on the Chesapeake Bay in Calvert Couty. The price was for this one is $299,999. If you like the unique floorplan this is a must see. There is alot of space in this fixer upper on the Chesapeake Bay in Calvert County. If you would like to view more waterfront fixer uppers for sale in Calvert County you can signup at www.SmdVacation.com. If you would like to view any of these just call (301) 904-5708 or email me at phyllis@localwaterfront.com
We're sorry, but we couldn't find MLS # CA7642376 in our database. This property may be a new listing or possibly taken off the market. Please check back again.
Posted in Calvert County, Chesapeake Bay, Fixer Uppers, St Leonard